YTL Power International Berhad (YTL Power) signed a Collaboration Agreement on April 12 with Agensi Inovasi Malaysia (AIM) and Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Malaysia to provide funding for the Communities Unite for Purewater (CUP) social intervention program run by GPF.
CUP was one of eight projects identified for investment by AIM under the Social Outcome Fund. “The SOF is a funding model that focuses on the outcomes of social intervention projects. In this model, the government and private sector work together to address social issues more effectively and increase the impact of funding in the social sector. We would like to invite more collaboration and participation from private funders in social finance models like the SOF,” said Naser Jaafar, Chief Executive Officer of AIM.
Launched in 2010, CUP has benefited more than 3,000 villagers from eight communities in Perak, Pahang, Sabah, and Sarawak. These communities face obstacles in obtaining a clean water supply and sanitation facilities due to their remote location, which leads to health problems such as skin diseases, diarrhea and cholera. The funding will enable CUP to develop sustainable solutions to make clean drinking water accessible such as constructing groundwater wells, installation of ultra-filtration water filters in the villages, providing training on water, sanitation and hygiene, and more.
CUP seeks to provide clean and safe water to uplift the welfare of targeted rural and underserved communities, particularly Orang Asli communities in West Malaysia and other indigenous communities in East Malaysia. Based on the latest estimates from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program 2017, 3 in 10 people worldwide, or 2.1 billion, lack access to safe, readily available water at home, and 6 in 10, or 4.5 billion, lack safely managed sanitation.
YTL Power is pleased to support the Communities Unite for Purewater program, which fits perfectly with the work the YTL Group is doing to assist underserved communities. We continuously look to support projects and initiatives that provide remote or marginalized communities with the necessities that many urban residents take for granted, such as clean water and sanitation. We are inspired by the impact CUP has achieved so far, and through this innovative funding solution by AIM, we are able to increase the number of people and communities they are able to help,” said Dato’ Yeoh Seok Hong (YTL Power).